Category - News

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – April 3, 2017…Touring off-road in the elements just got easier thanks to BMW Motorrad’s new EnduroGuard Suit. The EnduroGuard suit is a professional, waterproof adventure suit with a new cut, new material, new colors and new features that satisfy the wish list of men and women seeking maximum functionality, safety and comfort while navigating roads less traveled.

“Our riders have been asking for an externally waterproof suit with no liner and ample ventilation that provides the same standard of protection and comfort they expect from BMW Motorrad Apparel Products,” says Jordyn Baker, Apparel Product Specialist for BMW Motorrad USA.

Constructed of fabric developed exclusively for BMW Motorrad by Schoeller Textil AG (Switzerland), the EnduroGuard Suit achieves top performance ratings for abrasion resistance, climate control and personal comfort. Men’s and women’s jackets, offered in a range of sizes in grey or black (men’s sizes only), are priced at $949. Pants for men and women, offered in a range of waist sizes and inseams in black, are available at a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $649.

“With significant development, several rounds of testing, and focus on understanding the needs and expectations of the U.S. rider, this suit raises the bar in the Adventure suit segment, says Ben Radzyner, Parts & Accessories Manager for BMW Motorrad USA. “Our commitment to our customers is to provide them with state-of-the-art apparel products that will enhance their riding experience and the EnduroGuard Suit is a continuation of this mission.”

Product Highlights:

New generation suit for off-road use, waterproof

Highly abrasion-resistant shell of dynatec and dynatec stretch, with a ceraspace layer in some areas, a BMW innovation in cooperation with Schoeller Textil AG

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; Designworks, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 and X3 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 and X4 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 341 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 152 BMW motorcycle retailers, 127 MINI passenger car dealers, and 36 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Woodcliff Lake, N.J. – April 3, 2017… The Long Beach, California street circuit has been the site of many BMW Team RLL successes since the team’s first season racing for BMW in 2009. The team has finished the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race, for a second consecutive year sponsored by BUBBA® burger, with at least one BMW on the podium every year except last season. The Bobby Rahal-led team has won the street race three times; once with the BMW M3 GT in 2011 and twice with the BMW Z4 GTLM, in 2013 and 2015. Last year, Bill Auberlen qualified the new M6 GTLM racer on the class pole position, but finished a disappointing fifth after multiple contact with competitors ended another podium opportunity.

The Long Beach street course is only 1.968 miles long and the race is the shortest of the season at 100 minutes. Far different than the season’s opening 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring endurance events, success is often dictated by how the caution periods fall and how a team executes the race’s one planned pit stop and driver change.

To date in 2017, the team has scored a season’s best sixth place finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring. At Long Beach, season-long drivers Bill Auberlen and Alexander Sims will be in the No. 25 M6 and John Edwards and Martin Tomczyk will pilot the No. 24 M6.

The GTLM class Balance of Performance was adjusted by IMSA following Sebring and the M6 GTLM will benefit from an increase in boost in the rev range from 2000 to 7250 rpm. The fuel tank volume was also increased by 3 liters to total 108 liters of E20 fuel.

“It’s been a challenging year,” said Bobby Rahal, Team Principal. “However, if you look back at how we did at Long Beach last year – being on pole with Bill, with the car in its third race at that stage, the race was very positive for us. I would like to think that we can repeat that performance this year. It’s a very big car and of course it’s a very narrow track so that gives our drivers an extra challenge. If you look at our history at Long Beach, we’ve been pretty successful with BMW Team RLL having won three times and earned a number of podiums beyond that so we go there with a positive outlook based on past performance from both BMW and the team.”

Bill Auberlen, driver No. 25 BMW M6 GTLM: “Long Beach is the highlight sprint race of the year. I always look forward to the weekend for two primary reasons. First, it’s my home track and, secondly, I’ve won twice in the last few years. Last year, I qualified on the pole, setting a new lap record in the BMW M6 GTLM. This year I hope for a repeat of that, but also to be standing on the top step of the podium at the end of the race.”

Alexander Sims, driver No. 25 BMW M6 GTLM: “I am thoroughly looking forward to the Long Beach weekend. It will be my first time there and having watched the onboard videos, the circuit looks to be a brilliant challenge. I’ve been enjoying working with the team and am just looking forward to getting to Long Beach and trying to exploit all we can from our M6 GTLM.”

John Edwards, driver No. 24 BMW M6 GTLM: “I always enjoy racing at Long Beach because it’s the only street circuit we go to in the GTLM season. The walls are closer and consequences are higher, but we can feel the fan support more on a street circuit, even as we walk to pit lane to get ready for every session. I’m also looking forward to the first sprint race of the season, as the intensity is higher and mistakes are more costly when we only have one pit stop in a 100 minute race.”

Martin Tomczyk, driver No. 24 BMW M6 GTLM: “It is always exciting to race on a street circuit. Long Beach will be my first in the States. I know the nine hour time difference between my home in Germany and California will not make it easy, but I am up for the challenge. After two disappointing races at Daytona and Sebring we are ready to prove the performance of our M6.”

The Bubba Burger Sports Car Grand Prix At Long Beach takes the green flag at 1:05 p.m. PT Saturday, April 8th, with the live television broadcast beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET on FOX. Follow BMW Team RLL on Twitter at @BMWUSARacing for “from-the-pit-box” updates all weekend.

BMW Group In America

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 and X3 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 and X4 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 341 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 152 BMW motorcycle retailers, 127 MINI passenger car dealers, and 36 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

The BMW Group

With its three brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 31 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2016, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.367 million cars and 145,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax was approximately € 9.67 billion on revenues amounting to € 94.16 billion. As of 31 December 2016, the BMW Group had a workforce of 124,729 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

BMW’s partner, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, based in Hilliard, Ohio and co-owned by three-time IndyCar Champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, former CBS Late Show host David Letterman and Mi-Jack co-owner Mike Lanigan, has been competing for over two decades. Prior to the start of their 26th season of competition in 2017, the team had compiled 38 victories, 51poles,151 podium finishes, three series championships (1992, 2010, 2011) and claimed an Indianapolis 500 victory (Buddy Rice in 2004). In 2009 the team joined BMW of North America to campaign the new BMW M3 in the American Le Mans Series. The following year the team won both the Manufacturer and Team Championships in the GT category and swept all three GT titles – Manufacturer, Team and Driver – in 2011. In 2012 the team finished second in the Team Championship and third in the Manufacturer Championship and in 2013, the team finished second in the Driver, Team and Manufacturer Championship. The 2014 season brought a new challenge with the creation of the IMSA United SportsCar Championship and the team finished on the podium six times including four second-place finishes. In 2015, the team earned three wins, two poles and a total of eight podium finishes to finish second in the Manufacturer, Team and Driver championships and added two poles and three podiums in 2016. Prior to the start of the 2017 season, BMW Team RLL had won 13 races, 22 poles and 60 podium finishes.

eONE MUSIC

THE HILL

TRAVIS GREENE

RCA INSPIRATION

SOUNDS OF REVIVAL

WILLIAM MCDOWELL

DELIVERY ROOM MUSIC/ eONE MUSIC

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – March 22. 2017… It was 15 years ago today that a feisty, little-known car company came ashore in the United States and captured the hearts of Americans from coast-to-coast. Since 2002, MINI USA has sold and delivered more than 725,000 MINIs to delighted customers across the country.

Over the past 15 years, MINI has grown its vehicle portfolio from the iconic single Hardtop model that launched the brand here in the U.S. to include four unique models each with their own personality. The MINI Convertible, MINI Clubman and MINI Countryman have become staples of the MINI product line, providing the premium performance, daring design, and fun-to-drive dynamics MINI customers have come to know and expect from the brand. And as demand for the product increased, so did the company’s dealer network, growing from 66 dealers in 2002 to 127 dealers in 2017 across 39 states.

It doesn’t stop there. MINI has cultivated a fiercely loyal owner base, the likes of which few brands have the honor to call upon as their own. Through community events like the epic MINI TAKES THE STATES, more than 25,000 enthusiasts have come together through the years to share in varied roadtrip memories and activities like 3 MINI weddings, 1 flash mob, 1 pet parade, and providing more than 1.3 million meals to families in need during this year’s adventure.

MINI was ranked #1 in Sales Satisfaction by J.D. Power & Associates 6 times. The brand was also recognized as one of the Top 100 Global Brands by Interbrand, and Strategic Vision named MINI as the Most Loved Mass-Market Brand in their 2016 survey. And earlier this year, in the true MINI underdog spirit, the MINI JCW Race Team won the first race of the season at Daytona, leaving behind six Porsches, three BMWs, four Mazdas, one Ford Mustang and one Nissan.

To mark this special anniversary, MINI USA created a brief video compilation celebrating 15 years and counting!

About MINI in the U.S.

MINI is an independent brand of the BMW Group. In the United States, MINI USA operates as a business unit of BMW of North America, LLC, located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey and includes the marketing and sales organizations for the MINI brand. The MINI USA sales organization is represented in the U.S. through a network of 127 MINI passenger car dealers in 39 states. MINI USA began selling vehicles in the U.S. in 2002 with the introduction of the MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S Hardtops. Since then, the MINI Brand in the U.S. has grown to encompass a model range of four unique vehicles.

Voices Of Praise Magazine will be in attendance at this wonderful event that will engage our younger generation.

This youth and young adult summit is designed to INSPIRE you and the young people in your life. KiKi Sheard and a powerful line-up of speakers and musicians are going to ignite the fire of vision in your life. There is so much happening in the world and this event will be sure to help clarify God’s voice and plans for your life. You will leave with confidence in your future and peace in your heart.

Kierra Sheard will be LIVE in Columbus, OH. at the Columbus Central Church:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (March 9, 2017) – Bluegrass-fusion group HIGHROAD is taking media by storm with their latest release, Somewhere I’m Going. The group has been highlighted in many of the industry’s top sites and magazines.Life Beautiful Magazine honored the group by naming them one of four artists to keep an eye on this season.

Sarah Davison said, “A huge thanks to Life Beautiful Magazine for picking us as one of the four artists to listen to this season, along with Chris Tomlin, Jeannie Ortega, and Ron Block/Jeff Taylor!”

In addition, in a recent feature on NewReleaseToday.com, HIGHROAD was mentioned as one of the 10 best modernized hymns today. In a piece titled “Top 10 Modernized Hymns, Part 3”, writer Kevin Davis chose the girls’ rendition of “Give Me Jesus” to add to the list.

He had this to say: “This old spiritual has also been recently recorded by Fernando Ortega and Jeremy Camp. I’m moved every time I sing the last verse.”

Sarah Davison stated, “What an honor to be featured as an artist/arranger in the Top Ten Modernized Hymns along with Reba, Keith and Kristyn Getty, and more! We love hymns and their beautiful rich words and melodies so much. We will always continue to include these songs so that future generations can appreciate and love them too. Thank you for the encouragement, NRT!”

Somewhere I’m Going has been reviewed by many high profile publications such as CCM Magazine, AbsolutelyGospel.com, Hallels.com, LouderThantheMusic.com, NewReleaseToday.com, Southern Gospel Back Row, SGMusicForum.com, SGN Scoops Digital, and more!

The group’s current single, “We Are Broken”, is currently making its mark on Southern Gospel and Bluegrass radio. The song is impacting radio now.

HIGHROAD is also celebrating the recent success of Somewhere I’m Going. This release earned the group five Absolutely Gospel Music Award nominations including Album of the Year.

The group with special guest Jason Crabb will perform its nominated song “Christ My Hope, My Glory” at the Awards Celebration on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.

In a world where conformity is king and following the crowd is practically a survival instinct, the women of HIGHROAD, an award-winning Appalachian gospel group from Nashville who just happen to be the best of friends, too, have always preferred the road less traveled.

The group was awarded the 2015 AGM Female Group of the Year and worked with Grammy Award winning producer, Ben Isaacs.

And so it’s fitting that the trio’s album, which also features the girls’ inventive instrumentation, would bear the same name. Filled with the beautiful, harmonic melodies and vocals that have been the group’s hallmark, Sarah Davison, Kinsey Kapfhammer, and Kristen Bearfield, feel the songs from Angels At The Crossroads reflect their personal journey of being set apart.

The group was awarded the 2015 AGM Female Group of the Year and worked with Grammy Award winning producer, Ben Isaacs.

And so it’s fitting that the trio’s album, which also features the girls’ inventive instrumentation, would bear the same name. Filled with the beautiful, harmonic melodies and vocals that have been the group’s hallmark, Sarah Davison, Kinsey Kapfhammer, and Kristen Bearfield, feel the songs from Angels At The Crossroads reflect their personal journey of being set apart.

Crossroads is a market leader in the Southern Gospel, Bluegrass, and Performance Track fields. Established in 1993, following the combination of Horizon Music Group and Sonlite Records, Crossroads now operates several divisions including Crossroads Label Group (Horizon Records, Sonlite Records, Mountain Home Music, Skyland Records, Pisgah Ridge Records, Crossroads Records, and Organic Records), Crossroads Distribution, Crossroads Radio Promotions, Crossroads Publishing Group and Crossroads Recording Studios. Led by a strong executive team of Christian music and Bluegrass music veterans, Crossroads combines cutting-edge technology with creative innovation to connect fans with our artists’ life-changing music.

So what was the buzz tonight with the 2017 Oscars

“Moonlight” just won best picture at the 2017 Oscars after “La La Land” was mistakenly announced as the winner.

The presenters read “La La Land” right after Emma Stone won best actress for her role in the modern-day musical.

The list of wins go on and on.

But one of the biggest wins for me tonight was none other than the beautiful and talented Viola Davis who made an amazing acceptance speech full of passion and emotion. Leave some comments on your thoughts about tonights festivities.

Grand Re-Opening March 25 At Colorado’s Oldest and Only Exclusive BMW Motorcycle Retailer

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – February 16, 2017…BMW of Denver is on a Rocky Mountain high since moving its motorcycle retail operations from a 10,000-square-foot facility in Aurora, CO to a brand new 20,000-square-foot building in Centennial. Now located at 10350 E. Easter Avenue, BMW of Denver offers a complete line of new and pre-owned BMW motorcycles, parts, accessories, and apparel.

“Under the leadership of Dealer Principal Susan Dukes and General Manager Bill McConnell, sales at Colorado’s oldest and only exclusive BMW motorcycle retailer have increased more than 40% in the past three years, necessitating its relocation to a larger, state-of-the-art facility to serve its growing number of customers,” commented Michael Peyton, Vice President, BMW Motorrad North America. “We’re confident that BMW of Denver will continue to thrive in its new location in the heart of GS country.”

“Our success is fueled by a dedicated team of professionals, who have built strong customer relationships, as well as the BMW factory, which consistently delivers products that riders expect and deserve,” observed Bill, who spent over 30 years in the automotive industry prior to joining BMW of Denver in 2013. A passionate motorcycle tourer, he has logged more than 100,000 miles on his bike, traveling throughout the United States and Canada.

With more than 40 years of experience serving riders in the Denver metro area, BMW of Denver now has a 5,000-square-foot showroom, featuring every model BMW Motorrad USA has to offer, along with an 800-square-foot customer lounge, equipped with a computer station for mapping out trips and charging ports to help riders stay connected. There are multiple factory-trained, BMW-certified technicians ready to service all makes of motorcycles, 12 service bays, and even a shower to help weary riders refresh after a day on the road or dirt.

“We are committed to maintaining our ranking as the #1 dealer for volume and customer satisfaction in Colorado,” adds Bill. “It may be cool in the Rockies, but the atmosphere at BMW of Denver is always warm and friendly.”

BMW of Denver is hosting a grand re-opening on Friday-Saturday, March 24-25 from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The event – coinciding with the launch of BMW Motorrad’s National Spring Season Start Campaign – will feature BMW’s demo truck, which will offer a wide variety models to test ride.

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; Designworks, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 and X3 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 and X4 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 341 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 152 BMW motorcycle retailers, 126 MINI passenger car dealers, and 36 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Night of Gospel Music to be Highlighted with Performances by Jason Crabb, The Isaacs, Karen Peck & New River, and Many More!

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (February 13, 2017) – The administrators and staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com are proud to announce the first list of performers for the upcoming Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration. This year’s celebration will feature performances from many of the top nominated artists which include Grammy and Dove Award winning singers and songwriters.

“Without exception, this year’s performers represent the best our genre of music has to offer,” mentioned Deon Unthank of AbsolutelyGospel.com. “We are excited to host some of our perennials favorites as well as new names who’ve never shared the stage on such a fun night!”

In addition to performers, site administrators are proud to announce the venue for this year’s event. This year’s Awards Celebration will again take place at Nashville First Church of the Nazarene in downtown Nashville. This location continues to feature more seating and the ability to stream the program live.

“This was such a great move for this event last year,” commented Deon Unthank. “The staff at Nashville First Church of the Nazarene were so accommodating that it just made sense to stay here again. The feedback we received from fans, artists, and industry professionals about the move was beyond positive. We are looking forward to another great year at this fantastic venue.”

As far as nominations go, perennial favorites Karen Peck & New River and The Isaacs landed the most nominations this year. Both groups landed a stellar eight nominations apiece including individual nods in the Song of the Year category (for “I Am Blessed” and “This Is the Year” respectively) and Fan Favorite Artist of the Year. Both groups also had individuals land in hotly contested categories like Female Vocalist of the Year (for New River’s Karen Peck Gooch and The Isaacs’ Sonya Isaacs Yeary respectively) and Songwriter of the Year (Artist) for Gooch and Becky & Sonya Isaacs.

Another perennial favorite, producer/songwriter Wayne Haun was the most nominated individual this year, taking a strong 10 nominations for his work this past year, including three separate Album of the Year mentions for his production work this year. Those three nominated projects included Tribute’s Here For You, Legacy Five’s In the Hands of the Carpenter, and The Erwins’ Only Faith Can See.